Policy OB5
Play and recreation space
Development proposals should provide and ensure that people of all ages and abilities have access to a wide range of opportunity for sports, recreation and play.
- The council will seek to protect, and improve existing children and young people's play space, including improving access to play facilities though:
a) Resisting the loss of play and informal recreation facilities, unless replacement space of equivalent size, quality of amenity, and functionality is provided either onsite or in the local neighbourhood, with unrestricted public access, and
b) M aximising opportunities to deliver new and improved play and informal recreation facilities, through linking existing network of public playgrounds and creating playable street connectors such as incidental play, artwork, way finding to help connect safer routes for children.
c) A dapting play space to be accessible for those with disabilities through providing areas which contain accessible facilities such as the provision of equipment adapted for children with additional needs, quiet seating areas and visual aids.
- New residential development that provides family accommodation will be required to provide a play and child occupancy assessment using the GLA's child yield.
- Major developments that include residential floorspace will be required to provide on-site external play space in accordance with London Plan Policy S4, including for under-fives.
- New play and informal recreation facilities should be designed to respond and meet the local needs. This includes:
a) Ensuring that play space is accessible and inclusive, well designed and secure.
b) Providing public play space in appropriate location, away from sources of pollution and particularly supported in area of deficiency in play spaces.
c) Catering for all abilities and ages, including children in younger age groups, older children, teenagers and disabled children
9.45 The council acknowledges that play space is essential for the cognitive and physical development of children and young people and their ongoing health and wellbeing. Recreational space is equally important for people of all ages, contributing to better physical and mental health, and providing opportunities for residents to meet and interact socially. The Council aims to protect and enhance all existing play spaces in the borough, while also addressing gaps in provision in areas identified as being deficient in play space.
9.46 The council's Open Space Audit, undertaken between 2024 and 2025, identifies and quantitatively assesses public play facilities across the borough, including those located within housing estates. In parallel, the Playground Condition Report (2024) assesses the quality of play provision within the borough's parks and public open spaces, providing recommendations for enhancement. The report sets out a strategy for refurbishing and improving play provision, focusing on filling existing gaps and ensuring that spaces are of high quality.
9.47 Gaps in play space provision are identified in the northern part of the borough (OPDC area) and the Fulham area. The OPDC area, being predominantly industrial, contains limited residential dwellings and, as such, has a lower demand for play space. However, where new developments in Fulham (in Parsons Green and areas adjacent to Brompton Park) generate additional demand, there may be opportunities to provide new play facilities.
9.48 The analysis follows the London Plan Guidance document, The Shaping Neighbourhoods SPG, which sets out access standards for play provision based on the age of children and the distance they are expected to travel to reach the nearest play space.
9.49 New residential developments, including mixed-use schemes with housing, in areas identified as needing additional play space, should make provision for new play facilities.
9.50 Play and recreation spaces should be designed to meet the needs of local communities in Hammersmith and Fulham, ensuring they are inclusive, safe, and well-designed. To achieve this, developers are encouraged to work with local residents to help design play areas. This engagement should happen occur as early as possible in the design process to ensure it is meaningful and can shape the final design elements within the proposal.
9.51 To help protect children and other vulnerable people, play spaces should be located away from busy roads. This helps reduce exposure to air pollution and loud traffic noise, which can affect health and wellbeing. If a play space needs to be near a busy road, planting trees, hedges, or other greenery can act as a natural barrier to help reduce these impacts. Play space should also incorporate natural play elements wherever possible including provision for forest schools. More detailed guidance is available in the Mayor of London's Play and Informal Recreation Strategy.